Our 2011 fantasy baseball projections will be released one-by-one until the top 100 players have been revealed. These rankings consider past achievements, current performance and expected future results based on standard 5×5 H2H settings.

After being placed on waivers by the Blue Jays in August of 2009, Alex Rios hit just .199 in 146 at-bats for the White Sox, who claimed his seven-year, $70 million contract. The player who was once thought to be a 30/30 threat was hardly fantasy relevant entering the 2010 season.

But despite coming off arguably his worst season as a pro, Rios bounced back in 2010, hitting 21 HRs while swiping 34 bases and batting .284 as the White Sox’s No. 3 hitter. He was especially effective in the first-half (as usual), posting 15 HRs, 23 steals and a .305 average before the All-Star Break.

Despite his woeful 2009 campaign and injury concerns that troubled him early in his career, Rios has posted no less than 567 at-bats in four consecutive seasons. His dynamic three-year averages (see below) suggest Rios should be drafted as a top second-tier outfielder. His current ADP on Mock Draft Central, however, is just 61.16, well below the likes of Ichiro, Andre Ethier, Jose Bautista and Jayson Werth.

Given another 575 at-bats in the White Sox’s loaded lineup, Rios should approach another 90/20/90/30 line. Draft him with confidence.

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His low ADP is probably because of his poor 2nd half. He has a high K rate and the weirdest swing. Not worried about that?

Nick Kappel

Actually, his strikeout rate (16.4 percent) was well-below the MLB average (20.7 percent) last year. Given a 18/30/.275 three-year average and his spot as the White Sox’s No. 3 hitter, there’s not much to worry about.